Mostly Organic Weekend!

We started our Friday night at Planet Raw in Santa Monica..umm who new Cheesy Kelp noodles could be so delicious!! The dessert, chocolate mousse was aaaamazing!  wow, I really like raw food when I get it (and I eat raw for breakfast and lunch on weekdays), but the only other place I have been to is Rawvolution and their service is awful!  Our service was better and they seemed more open to non-raw foodists, ready to make recommendations.

We decided to hit up organic wineries in Santa Barbara with the boy's brother.  After starting with non-organic Starbucks drinks, (it was close and convenient!) We stopped at Plate in Malibu on the way to Santa Barbara.  They claim that they use all organic ingredients, so I am trusting them.  His breakfast burrito w/ chicken sausage and my egg sandwich with turkey bacon were delicious!!

Our first winery was Beckmen vineyards.  Completely bio dynamical!  what does that mean?!  read more about that here, but the main quote I found interesting is: . "By treating vineyards as complete and self-replenishing systems, biodynamic farming naturally builds soil life and vitality, while defending against pests and disease. Often confused with both organic and sustainable farming practices, biodynamic farming meets the criteria of both, while focusing on a unique set of eight naturally derived non-chemical soil and plant treatments."  The wine pourer said that bio dynamical farming includes the lunar calendar and even some spirituality,  like planting crystals near the crops.  But in the end, the grower won't do anything if it doesn't help the plant/enhance the flavor.  

 Alma Rosa was next.  It was a great space!  I felt like I was in the person's house.  We hung out in the patio, drinking wine, listening to music that one of the worker's had written/performed (we got his CD).  I was a little bummed when I asked about their organic practices and she said "well our crop is all organic, but since we just split off from Sanford a few years ago, we have to buy some fruit."  So does that mean that fruit can't be organic too?  But they do recycle their bottles!

For dinner we hit up Los Olivos Cafe which uses local and organic farmers.  OMG!  I don't know if it was because I was tipsy or it was really that good but the pesto pizza (mykanos, i think it was called) we had was amazing as was the bread and olive oil/tapenade.  damn.  my mouth is watering right now!

We ended off the day lying in the grass of a sunny font yard of some guy who was playing his guitar!  So cool!  he opens his "garden" up for people to come and sit in chairs or on the grass and listen to him play.  Perfect way to end the day.

I didn't go off the organic deep end Sunday, but I also made my own food most of the day, except for dinner.  All in all, not bad, and a fabulous SoCal weekend!